Asking Quote by Cesar Chavez
“...So they are trying to do something about it. They are not doing it by seeking charity. They are not begging at the welfare office. They are not, like many of their employers, lobbying the halls of Congress with their gold plated tin cups asking to be paid for not growing crops. They are trying to do it in the way that millions of other Americans have shown is the right way-organization, unionism, collective bargaining.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Labor Rally, 1970s, United States
The passage critiques charity‑based aid and advocates collective action through unions and bargaining as the proper path for workers.
In simple terms: Reject charity, use unions for change.
Support union organizing.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- workplace negotiations
- community organizing
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can workers build effective unions?
- What are the limits of charity in social change?
Charity can address immediate needs. systemic change requires collective power.